“Nearly nine out of ten institutional investors globally report that they are not changing their commitments to sustainable investing, despite geopolitical pressures, although many are being quieter about it, according to a new survey by financial group BNP Paribas.” [COMMENTARY] There is a reason why the vast majority of institutional investors are sticking to sustainable…

“Today, green bonds have a market value of around $2.9 trillion globally, up nearly sixfold since 2018, according to a March 2025 report in the Bank for International Settlements quarterly review.” [COMMENTARY] If you haven’t considered buying green bonds for your portfolio, it’s probably wise to give it some thought. This article is a good primer on…

“Sustainability information is no longer just a box to check; it is now a vital asset for enhancing agility, gaining a competitive advantage and building stakeholder trust.” [COMMENTARY] Sustainability information is generally at the core of the most successful businesses. Check out the corporate rankings of the top companies lists or the biggest holdings of…

“Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that changes in ESG scores neither affect a firm’s opportunity cost of capital for new investment projects nor relax financing constraints, although firms behave as if the changes in ESG ratings (particularly environmental scores) change the relative prices of issuing different types of securities.” [COMMENTARY] This is a…

“For many investors, whether fixed income or equity, the process of integrating ESG factors into their strategies begins with correlating the relevance of each factor to individual industries.” [COMMENTARY] This is a good knowledge article on applying ‘materiality’ (ESG issues) to corporate profitability and stock returns. Materiality Matters: The ESG Factors That Count, by  AllianceBernstein,…

“Is there not a risk that governments’ backlash against climate and environmental issues will stop the previously promising green bond market in its tracks? In our view, this is unlikely, as sustainable finance is set to play an increasingly important role in the future, for at least three reasons.” [COMMENTARY] I concur with the three…

“A recent Morgan Stanley report shows that 84% of U.S. individual investors are interested in sustainable investing. Among Millennials and Gen Z, this interest jumps to 85%.” [COMMENTARY] In their formal education and life experience, younger people see that if the world is to provide for their well-being, they have to apply their values to…

“In the past decade, share repurchases have drawn the ire of many, with critics arguing that they line the pockets of executives at the expense of long-term shareholder value. However, in our view, share repurchases often accomplish the very purpose for which a public corporation exists: increasing shareholder wealth. Share repurchases serve to increase the ownership…

“The lack of regulation and accountability of proxy advisory firms, their conflicts of interest, ongoing objective errors in their reports, as well as unfounded biases and presumptions underlying their proxy voting positions, demonstrate the need for these participants in the U.S. proxy system to be subject to reasonable, common-sense regulation.” [COMMENTARY] Shareholders today do not…

“Majority of investors globally (88%) show interest in sustainable investing, including nearly all surveyed Gen Z (99%) and Millennial (97%) investors.” [COMMENTARY] If it were not a renowned investment firm like Morgan Stanley reporting this data — I’d be very suspicious of the results shown. They seem too good to be true. Morgan Stanley Sustainable…

“A landmark global poll of business executives across 15 countries shows overwhelming support for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels to renewable electricity. ” [COMMENTARY] The results of this survey seem too good to be true. Nonetheless, I believe that globally, most business executives favour the phasing out of fossil fuels and replacing them…

“Europe saw negative outflows for the first time, but it’s important to keep a sense of perspective.” [COMMENTARY] The writer makes a case for ‘keeping one’s head’ about ESG fund outflows. They’ve now turned around in many markets, and positive flows are showing up. Making sense of a rough quarter for ESG funds, by Simon…

“In the long term, US and global sustainable indexes have beaten their conventional counterparts.” [COMMENTARY] This is an article that all investors should read, especially those who believe sustainable investments only underperform! As Market Lurched, Sustainable Stock Indexes Outperformed, by Thomas Kuh and Maggie Stafford, April 20, 2025, Morningstar, USA.

“A look at the regulatory outlook for sustainable investing and the latest data for fund flows.” [COMMENTARY] This article provides useful insights into the effects of public policy related to ESG and sustainable investing for the near future. Public Policy Drives Sustainable-Investing Markets in 2025, by Ron Bundy, April 17, 2025, Morningstar, USA.

“The Green Impact Exchange (GIX) is about to make history. It’s set to become the first U.S. stock exchange focused only on companies that care about the environment and long-term sustainability. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved GIX to register as a national securities exchange, giving it the green light to begin…

“Amid a hostile political environment, experts make the case for investing in sustainable energy stocks.” [COMMENTARY] This is a good review article of the situation in the USA. Can Renewable Energy Stocks Prosper in Trump’s Second Term? By Valerio Baselli, April 14, 2025, Morningstar, UK.

[COMMENTARY] Many of the most important issues facing company boards are discussed in this report. 2025 Proxy Season Preview, by Aaron Wendt, Krishna Shah, and Courteney Keatinge, April 10, 2025, Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, USA.  

“The way policies and practices for the preparation and conduct of general shareholder meetings are evolving could change essential elements of sound corporate governance, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s latest Shareholder Meetings and Corporate Governance report.“ [COMMENTARY] The article and the OECD report it illuminates provide valuable insights on how shareholder…

“There are several reasons why diversity in workforces makes good business sense,’ says fund manager Charlotte Yonge.” [COMMENTARY] There are many problems with DEI! However, for many businesses aspects of DEI can increase organizational efficiency, productivity, and profits. ‘Diversity really matters’, by Carmen Reichman, March 25, 2025, FT Advisor, UK.

“Dropping the term ‘ESG’ doesn’t change the underlying pressures. Regulation may be in flux—the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rolled back climate disclosure efforts, and even in the EU, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is now subject to political pushback. But the material risks haven’t disappeared. Investors are still asking pointed questions…